Float operated switch



April 1942- -J. o. WILLIAMS 2,281,127

' FLOAT OPERATEDLSWITCH Filed Aug. 29, 1939 2.9 28 I I7 43 a o If l v z/ I j: .96

9 x9 I s5 92 /4 6 1 3 l I l' I" Attorney Paiented Apr. 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE non ornna'rnn swrr'cn Jacob Ottis Williams, San'Bernardino, 0111:. Application August 29; 1939, Serial No. 292,438

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to newand useful improvements in float operated switches.

An object of the invention is to provide a float operated switchwhich may be adjusted to close a circuit at low liquid level.

.Another object of the invention is to provide a float switch which may be adjusted for closing a circuit at high or low liquid level.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch which may be hand operated to test its operation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of the aforementioned character which will be durable and reliable in use, simple in operation and which may be manufactured at low cost.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts and, wherein: V

The figure is a vertical sectional view.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral 32 designates a cylindrical housing having an open bdttom and a dome like top'33. The housing 32 has threaded openings 34, 35, 36 and 31 in the dome shaped top 33 thereof while another threaded opening is formed in the side of the housing 32 as at 38.

Nipples 33, 40 and 4| are mounted in the threaded openings 34, 36 and 38 and have mounted axially therein and insulated therefrom conductor elements 42, 43 and which project within the housing 32 as shown in the drawing.

The conductor element i has formed on its bottom end an inverted T-shaped head 44 which is secured to and between the bars 33 of the swinging contact lever 45 through the medium of a pin 2.

The swinging contact lever 45 is composed of the bars 33 which are spaced apart and secured together by blocks 4 and 9 which are secured to the bars in any suitable man'ner. A block 5 between the bars 3-3, has a'vertical threaded opening 6 therethrough and, is provided at its sides with laterally extending pins 1 each ofwhich engages in an elongated opening 8 in each of the bars 3-3.

A push rod l having a threaded portion |3 for engagement in the threaded opening 6 of the block is provided for swinging the contact lever 45 when actuated by a float (not shown).- The push rod III has a square shank l4 at its top end portion upon which a winged wrench I5 is slidably engaged and held against displacement by a washer II which is secured to the shank H to provide a flanged end thereon. The push rod III has mounted thereon a float engaging collar H which is adjustably secured to the push rod "I through the medium of a set screw l2.

The winged wrench l5 has small openings formed in its wings as shown at 3.

Mounted in the threaded opening 35. is a flanged insulator sleeve l3 which is provided with threads 20. The flange portion of the insulator sleeve I8 is exteriorly of the dome top 33 and is housedin a threaded sleeve 2| which is welded or otherwise secured to the dome top 33. The sleeve 2| has an apertured ear 22 extending from one side thereof.

To protect and cover the winged wrench ii a cap 23 is threadedly engaged on the sleeve 2| and it is provided with an apertured ear 24 which, when aligned with the apertured ear 22 may be sealed to prevent unauthorized removal of the cap 23.

The insulator sleeve l8 has a slot IS in its to side in which the winged wrench I5 is engaged to hold the same against accidental movement.

Mounted in the threaded opening 31 is a screw threaded shaft 25 the lower end of which is provided with an insulator foot 26 which is secured to the threaded shaft 25 by a set screw 21. The top end of the threaded shaft 25 extends beyond the dome top 33 and is surrounded by a threaded sleeve 28 which is welded or otherwise secured to the top side of the dome top 32. The sleeve 28 has an apertured ear 23 on one side thereof which, when aligned with an apertured ear 3| on the cap 30, is sealed to the ear 3! to prevent unauthorized removal of the cap 30.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the push rod HI is moved in an upward direction it forces the contact lever 45 to swing on the pin 2 and contact the block 9 with the conductor pin 43 thereby completing a circuit from the conductor pin to the conductor pin 43. When the push rod ill moves downwardly sufliciently the block 3 contacts the conductor pin 42 thereby completing a circuit between the conductor pin and the conductor pin 42.

When it is desired to prevent a circuit from flowing from the conductor pin to the conductor pin 43 the threaded shaft 25 is fed through the opening 31 until the insulator foot 26 is extended low enough to prevent contact of the block 3 with the conductor pin 43.

In order to adjust the push rod In in the block 5 the winged wrench I5 is turned, with theresuit that the threaded portion I3 01 the push rod II is fed upwardly or downwardly through the block I.

When it" is desired to make a test 0;. the switch to determine its operativeness the cap 23 is removed. A length of wire, orthe like, may then be engaged in the openings ll of the winged winged wrench l5 and employed to lift the winged. wrench I5 which will in turn lift the push rod l0 and contact lever 45 and cause the block 8 to contact the conductor pin 43.

Although {have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is be definitely understood that I do notdesire to limit the application of the inventionthereto, and any change or changes may be made in the structure and arrangement of the several parts, within the spirit of-the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

operated switch including a housing, conductor pins insulated trom and projecting into said housing, an enlarged head on one of said pins,

. a conducting contact lever pivotally secured at 10 threaded vertical opening therethrough, a

threaded push rod adjustably mounted in said threaded block' opening for swinging said conductor lever'to close a circuit, and a wrench secured to said push rod for rotating the same into ad- 15 justed position in said threaded opening in said vblock.

JACOB OTI'IS WILLIAMS.

,x'l'n a device of the character described, a float t 

